Bonanza

I found myself inspired by you all to start my own fashion blog. No, it hasn’t happened, but a gal can dream. IFB bloggers had smart advice on the business of blogging this week by sharing tips on collaboration, their own favorite bloggers, and translating high fashion for the real world and budget. I also loved how some of you took me out of my world and shared beautiful traditions and regional fashion. And for those of you wondering which current designer matches your zodiac sign, follow along with Amethyst Honey. That was a new one.

With Eid just around the corner, us 4 friends, Maliha Rao, Umair Mirza, Rabeeyah and myself (all of us who also happen to be bloggers) decided to check out what is up and out there this Eid. Our first stop was Ocean Mall where we first splashed :P. Splash had a good range, a bit steeply priced, but good nevertheless menswear with some interesting textural and easy jackets and printed cotton shirts. They also had a quite a bit of variety of knitted ties. There was a lace shirt in women’s section that I liked and was this close to getting it… remember Burberry 😛 I also liked these round pair of sunnies that were cute and fun priced for 1250 PKR only.

Its all about big industry giants to collaborate in with designers to develop brands and that is what Bonanza did. Hiring Maheen Karim and Sanam Chaudhri for their brands to introduce pret wear, Bonanza aimed to reach a wider audience apart from the masses that they cater to.

Organized by Catalyst PR, the event also included a fashion presentation. While Maheen Karim stuck to her aesthetics roots, Sanam Chaudhri showed off her contemporary flair. Maheen Karim’s line bordered on semi formals and Sanam’s tilted more towards everyday lose tunics. Due to my personal aesthetics, I liked some of the tunics by Sanam Chaudhri, however Maheen Karim’s was not my cup of tea. Some of the prints were really nicely done. However if I had to be nit-picky, someone like Bonanza should have gone for to create their original prints rather than getting them from local market as spotted one of the tunics by one of the designers.

The overcrowded event was attended whos who of the fashion industry owing to it being one of the major collabs in recent times. It is now waited to be seen how these collaborations translate into sales and if bonanza is able to break into the niche market it has so far eluded.